CounterPath,Vidtel Extend Cloud Video Conferencing to iPhone

Available through a variety of channels, MeetMe is priced with flat-rate and per-minute plans starting at 15 cents per minute for video participation.

The
high upfront cost of video conferencing can be a significant hurdle to small to
medium-size businesses (SMBs) looking to invest in video conferencing
infrastructure, and so they often have to make do with consumer-grade services
such as Google Hangouts or Skype. To help bridge the gap between these services
and expensive telepresence solutions, CounterPath and Vidtel announced they are
providing an affordable mobile video conferencing alternative via
interoperability between their products.
CounterPath's
Bria is a carrier-grade application that enables unified voice and video
calling, messaging, and presence management across multiple platforms and
endpoints. Vidtel's MeetMe is a cloud-based service that enables any-to-any
video conferencing between room-based systems, executive desktop video systems,
PCs/Macs, smartphones and tablets using any combination of SIP, H.323 and other
technologies. With Bria installed on PCs or Apple's iPhone, MeetMe can be
accessed over the Internet via a wired Ethernet connection, WiFi or while
connected over 3G/4G/LTE or WiMax mobile networks.

Interoperability
between CounterPath's Bria softphone for PCs and mobile devices and Vidtel's
MeetMe service offers users a cross-platform, multi-standards based alternative
to other services, offering multi-endpoint video conferencing that
interoperates with the installed base of room-based systems and executive
desktop products, as well as with all versions of Bria for Macs and PCs and the
recently updated Bria mobile for iPhones, which now includes video. Bria for
Macs and PCs can be purchased from the CounterPath online store and the Mac App
Store, while Bria mobile is available through the iTunes App Store.

Vidtel
also becomes the first IVSP (Internet Video Service Provider) to join the
CounterPath Partner Program, enabling users to configure their Bria clients
without extensive knowledge of provider-supplied settings. Interoperability
between Vidtel and Bria allows SMBs and other organizations to participate in
video conferences from hotel rooms, airports, home offices, coffee shops,
client facilities and other remote locations with mobile devices or enter a
video conference room using the familiar methods of dialing a phone number, PBX
extension or SIP address, which eliminates the need to add a contact/buddy or
learn the requirements of third-party services. Users can also boost video
conference quality by using SIP-based native interoperability rather than
transcoding.
"Businesses
of every size value the bottom-line benefits of video communications, including
on tablet and smartphones," said Todd Carothers, CounterPath senior vice
president. "The interoperability with Vidtel enables CounterPath to meet
that need by providing device- and network-agnostic video conferencing
solutions that are as intuitive as dialing a telephone. Together, we're
liberating businesses from the costs, constraints and uncertainties that come
with video communication services that are ruled by a single company."
Existing
Bria customers can begin using MeetMe this week. Available through a variety of
channels, MeetMe is priced with flat-rate and per-minute plans starting at 15
cents per minute for video participation. Even without a subscription, any Bria
user can participate in video conferences hosted by other Vidtel subscribers.
"CounterPath's
enterprise-grade softphones are a natural complement to Vidtel in a smartphone
and tablet environment; both companies are committed to providing SMEs with
convenient, cost-effective and high-quality video communications," said
Scott Wharton, CEO of Vidtel. "We offer no hidden caveats when it comes to
price and interoperability. This interoperability creates an exciting range of
opportunities for both our companies and our customers, now and in the near
future."

Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.